Android Nougat Release Notes Are Up For The Moto X Play

Motorola has posted up the release notes for an upgrade to Android 7.1.1 (Nougat) for the Moto X Play, indicating that the update itself will likely begin rolling out some time in the near future. The release notes indicate that users can expect to get their hands on all of the usual Nougat-related features that one can expect when jumping from Android version 6.0.1 (Marshmallow), and the update will also bring Google's Duo video messaging app. In addition, the update comes with the May 1st Android security patch. It is worth noting that there are already scattered reports of users getting the update over the air, but Moto has yet to announce that the update is officially going out.

Moto's phones tend to run a fairly stock Android experience, so users can expect the update to bring new Nougat features like Doze enhancements, better RAM management, new Emojis, changes to notifications, and of course multi-window functionality. This will all come with a minimum of bloat, of course. The security update, meanwhile, includes a wide range of fixes all the way up to the critical level, consisting of the usual suspects such as privilege escalation exploits and vulnerabilities in key system processes. The security update also helps to protect against all the latest malware that can lurk in the Play Store and elsewhere. While this update does pack in the Duo app, its non-video counterpart, Allo, is nowhere to be found, so users who want it will have to get it from the Play Store.

Moto's release notes warn that users who take this update will not be able to downgrade to previous software versions afterward. Should the update find you, be sure that your device is sufficiently charged or connected to a charger, and has a reliable internet connection. The usual rule of thumb is to have your battery charged to 80 percent or higher before starting the update, but Moto says that 50 percent should be fine. If the device turns off during the update for any reason, it could become fully inoperable, a condition known as a hardbrick, depending on what part of the process the shutdown happens in.

Daniel has been writing for Android Headlines since 2015, and is one of the site's Senior Staff Writers. He's been living the Android life since 2010, and has been interested in technology of all sorts since childhood. His personal, educational and professional backgrounds in computer science, gaming, literature, and music leave him uniquely equipped to handle a wide range of news topics for the site. These include the likes of machine learning, voice assistants, AI technology development, and hot gaming news in the Android world. Contact him at [email protected]